Family Matters March 2018 - Orchard Hill College

Family
Matters
March 2018

Welcome
Congratulations to all our students for their fantastic achievements this
term. Many of our students started new work placement opportunities
this term and it’s been great to hear the positive feedback from students
and employers. We also had a brilliant ‘Celebration of Digital Discovery’
this term at the Virgin Lounge in Piccadilly where some of our students
showcased their work in developing digital products. Thank you to all of you
who are attending our coffee mornings and engaging in discussions with
us. Hopefully, some of you will be able to visit the CAOS Festival in July to
see some works of expressive art by our students from Carshalton College
centre (VPC).

Best wishes for a Happy Easter.

Dr Caroline Allen OBE
Principal & Chief Executive Officer, Orchard Hill College & Academy Trust

Expressive Art from VPC to be exhibited at the CAOS
Festival
Students at the Vocational Progression Centre have been taking part in expressive art sessions.
Teacher Gemma Collins encourages students to use a range of unique materials and innovative
techniques to create some stunning pieces of art.

This piece was made by a student who
poured the paint directly out of the bottles
and then formed the patterns using a broken
wooden paintbrush. He worked very fast and
enjoyed the repetitive sounds the wooden
brush handle made against the canvas.

Other methods students have used include
pulling string through paint, using a fly swat to
splatter paint and blowing glitter paint down a
canvas.

Gemma commented: “This art project truly
captures the students’ creative abilities
and enables them to express themselves
independently.”

If you would like to see the artwork, it is being
exhibited at a new exciting community festival
CAOSart18 on 1st July 2018 in Carshalton.
www.carshaltonartists.com/artists

Supermarket Work Experience
Beaconsfield student Nasir has begun work at Sainsbury’s in Kingston. He is currently gaining
valuable work experience and is growing in confidence and acquiring some great independence
skills. Nasir stacks the shelves and makes sure they are full and well organised. Nasir said:
“I am really enjoying my work at Sainsbury’s, I work on Thursday morning for an hour and half
each week.”

Nasir in action at Sainsbury’s.

Home grown Apprentice
Aaron, a former Orchard Hill College student
who is currently progressing well on his
Customer Service Apprenticeship, has
successfully passed his Functional Skills exam
this month.

Aaron said: “I am really enjoying my
apprenticeship, it is great being part of the
digital team and learning so many skills. I can
now code and have my own webpage.”
Congratulations Aaron!
                                                  Apprentice Aaron being congratulated by Simon
                                                  Gale, Creative Director of The Digital School.

Celebration of Digital
Discovery
Our Digital School hosted an event at the Virgin
Money Lounge in Haymarket in February with
students from Orchard Hill College and
Academy Trust.

Guests from the technology and education sector
gathered for a “Celebration of Digital Discovery”
where students displayed their digital talents with a
range of products.

The Digital School was set up as a student led
enterprise in 2015 to develop innovative and
engaging digital resources for students, staff and
the wider community. The School has come a
long way in a short period of time, with a number
of accessible digital products for both SEND and
mainstream schools and colleges.

At the event, visitors were treated to a live podcast
and a preview of a soon-to-be launched 3D game,
“Road Sense”, designed to raise awareness of road
safety and to promote travelling independently in
a safe way. Students also demonstrated a series
of augmented reality training cards which bring
static items to life, making their lessons even more
engaging and interactive.

Attendees were encouraged to get interactive
and try out the virtual reality headsets that can
transport users to Egypt or even experience life on
Mars; more practically for students with SEND, VR
enables them to become familiar with places and
environments before they visit them.

This annual event provides the perfect platform for
students to promote and showcase their innovations
and hard work. The skills learnt on their journey are
far reaching and impact on all areas of their lives,
from enhanced communication skills to developing
skills for work, which is exactly why we set up the
Digital School.

Kane impresses staff
at All Saints church
This term, BedZed student Kane started
his work experience at All Saints church in
Mitcham.

Staff observed that he was very focused
and able to carry out a variety of jobs.
Kane’s hard work demonstrated his ability
to follow instructions, stay focused and
complete tasks in a work environment,
these skills will be hugely important in
enhancing Kane’s future.                        Kane taking pride in his work experience.

Great work Team Beaconsfield
Students from Beaconsfield went on an organised visit to All Saints Church in Kingston for their
friendship group trip. Whilst they were there they spoke to two police officers about their new ID
cards. All students carry these whilst out and about in the community. The students showed them
that they contained their name and emergency contact details for the College so that in the event
a student becomes separated from the group or staff member they are working with, they can be
helped to be reunited quickly. The students also explained to the officers their knowledge of the
safe place scheme and how if they see a shop or bank etc. with the sticker displayed they can ask
the staff inside for help. Students also got to socialise together and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate.

By interacting
with the Police, it
reinforced for the
students who it is
safe to approach
in the community.
Staff accompanying
students were very
impressed with how
confidently and
competently the
students displayed
their cards to the
officers and how
they remembered
the concept of the
safe places scheme
without prompting.
Great work Team
Beaconsfield!

Friends Reunited
Walid a student at Lomond House, went on an exciting visit to Nightingale centre where he was
reunited with his previous peers Michael and Karim for a cooking session together. They were all
very excited about seeing each other, Walid even chose to save a packet of crisps he had bought so
he could share it with his friend Michael on arrival! Seeing the students so delighted about seeing
each other, lecturers are planning different ways to support and maintain their friendship.

Walid also had a great time using public transport to travel between College centres, identifying
safety procedures including; minding the gap in the underground platform and recognising his
stop. This activity helped to build Walid’s social and emotional skills and his interaction and connection
with the wider world.

Lecturer, Cristina Salado
concluded: “It has been
such a nice experience to
see the friendship between
the boys, which we will
support them to sustain
after College.”

Coffee Morning and
Enterprise for Mother’s Day
This term saw the introduction of coffee mornings
in each of our regional hubs. The informal events
provide an opportunity for students, parents and
carers to engage with staff and talk through the
transition process.

College students enjoyed getting involved
by serving tea, coffee and biscuits and at the
Nightingale session they hosted a mini enterprise
selling their beautifully presented flower displays
for Mother’s Day.

Whilst it was lovely to see so many parents, we
do understand that not all are available to attend
events during working hours. With this in mind we
are developing an online parent/carer forum.

Food for thought!
Students at Wyvern, Zac and
George, attended their first
work experience session at
Uxbridge food bank this term.
They both worked very hard
in an unfamiliar and busy
environment. Both students
followed verbal instructions from
staff, completing their set tasks
effectively and as a team.

Learning Support Assistant
Bola Ogunsola said: “This was
a fantastic opportunity for Zac
and George to manage change,
taking responsibilities, also to
increase their listening skills and
ability to follow instructions.”

Dates for the diary
Easter Holidays
Last day of term for students:		      Friday 23rd March
INSET day:					                       Friday 13th April
First day back for students:		        Monday 16th April

Half term
Last day of half term for students:   Thursday 24th May
INSET day:					                       Friday 25th May
First day back for students:		        Monday 4th June

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